St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-07-11
ELEVEN PERSONS PERISH.
Nearly a Dozen People Burned to
Death in the Alcazar Theater
at Hurley, Wis.
The Spectators Get Out Alive, But ALI
of the Company Of Acters Meet
a Horrible Death.
Frantic Attempt Of Miss Sadie Wells
to Escape---Miss Mabel Powers
Jumps Three Stories.
The Entire Business Portion OF the
Town Destroyed---Those Whose
Losses Exceed $1,000.

HURLEY, Wis, July 1O.-Fire broke
out on the stage of the Alcazar theater
at o'clock last night, and within an
hour the entire business part OF the
town was in flames, while eleven per-
sons had perished in the theater. The
charred remains of nine people have
been taken from the ruins. The loss Is
fully half million dollars. The Alca-
zar was a variety theater chiefly fre-
uuented by miners, and was one OF the
resorts of unsavOry repute associated
with the notorious dance houses OF the
mining regions. Only small audience
had gathered when the fire broke out,
and they scrambled out in hurry. SeV-
eral of the actors, however. rushed up
stairs to save their wardrObeS, and Wheh
they sought to escape found that they
were hemmed in on all sides, the flames
having spread through the wooden
building with incredible rapidity. How
they struggled to flee will never be
known. as none of them except Sadie
Wells and Mabel Powers were ever
seen again. The former appeared at
second-story window and called for help
piteOusly upon the crowd outside to
save her. Before hand could be raised
the
FLAMES REACHED HER
and communicated to her clothing.
She made a frantic effort to jump
through the window: then, with a
piercing shrek; fell into the furnace
below. Mabel Powers had reached
third-story window. She jumped and
was so badly injured that her recovery
is doubtful. Among those who perished
in the theater were Frank Young, Sadie
McCabe and D. Jackson, colored come
dians; Tillie Moore, song and dance ar
fist: Mabel Goodrich and husband, Sadie
R. Wells, Mrs. FentOn and two or three
others whose names are not known.
The Alcazar was in the very heart OF
the city. 1t was a mass of flames in
very short time. The fire seemed to
leap from building to building until
several blocks became roaring oven.
1t was not long before every business
building between Third street and Fifth
avenue was in flames. All efforts to
get the fire under control seemed futile.
The fire department, reinforced by
scores of volunteers, sent its puny
streams against the advancing walls of
flame, but had to retreat as the fire
swept resistlessly on. Itdid not stop I'M
tilmaterial for it to feed on was lacking.
The individual losses, over $1,000, are
as follows:
Moore, McFerran & Co., merchadise
and clothing ...-...--..--.---.-S S0O,OOO
More, Agnew & Co., general hard
Ware............ .------.-: 4O,OoO
Heineman Bros. & Co., dry goods. $4,000
Cohn & MINI, general merchandise. 10000
D[lis disc q hAIsuoii' ee.'.. 10000
Carrothers Bros. stock of liquors -. 5000
J. b. Lanlois, saloon and household
goods O.OOO
oscar Hanson, furnishing goods..... 5000
Lennon & Foster, drugs 5000
ProprietorS of the Fair. ................ 5000
Jobn Fhurton I6 buildings ........ $4,000
Charles Leclaire, Alcazar theater..... 10000
D. P. Mcneil, saloon and household. 10000
p : Birdsee, wholesale liquors 1900
A. E. Gallagher, law library .....-.-.. 5000
Paeske Bros. groceries with building 1000
c. Perrin, restaurant-..... 1000
F. A. Day, hardware. 80. ............ 5000
d. Ridgman, saloon and restaurant. 5OOO
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
CHICAGO, July 10.-A Times special
from IrOnWOod, Mich, across the river
from Hurley, Wis, says: Seventeen
people lost their lives in the AlcaZar.
The following additional names of dead
are given: j. A. Van Quick, Samnel
Haley and Laurie Brainerd. 1t is prob
able that John Garret, the stage carpen-
ter, will die from his injuries. The ac-
tress who leaped from the third story
says she tried to persuade several
others to jump, but they delayed and the
floor fell in, taking them with it.
MILWAUKEE, July 10TH fire, to-
gether with the one of the previous
week, destroyed nearly all the business
portion of the town, leaving only a few
stores standing. Both sides of Silver
and Copper streets were burned for
distance of three blocks. The losses
are partially covered by insurance of
about $4,000. The loss by the
two fires will amount to fully 5000, 900.
About three hundred persons suffered
from the confagration and many of
them have lost their all, being virtually
homeless. A large number are living
in tents. The work of rebuilding the
burned district was begun to-day. The
Oyerton house had a very narrow es-
cape. 1t was badly scOrched.